Avaliação ecocardiográfica do átrio esquerdo de cães sadios por meio do modo-M convencional e do modo bidimensional

Avaliaram-se o átrio esquerdo (AE) utilizando-se o método bidimensional (2-B) (corte transverso) e a relação átrio esquerdo:aorta (AE:Ao), em um grupo de 40 cães adultos e sadios, entre um, cinco e sete anos de idade e com pesos corpóreos de 3,2kg a 38,3kg, e compararam-se esses valores aos do modo-M convencional. Observou-se diferença entre AE e Ao nos dois métodos e entre os seus respectivos índices. A correlação foi positiva alta entre peso e superfície corpórea e entre AE no modo 2-B (AEB) e AE no modo-M (AEM). Não se observou correlação entre os índices, nos dois métodos, com o peso e a superfície corpórea, isto é, os índices são independentes do peso ou da superfície corpórea. Concluiu-se que o AEB é maior do que o AEM, o índice médio para o AEB:AoB é de 1,379, e o intervalo de confiança de 1,337 a 1,422. O índice no método 2-B é, portanto, superior ao índice no modo-M.

An in vitro study showing the three-dimensional microenvironment influence over the behavior of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Objectives: The Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) ranks sixth worldwide. The mechanisms of growth, invasion and metastasis of this pathology are extensively studied and generally related to specific variations in signaling pathways like the PI3K-Akt; however most of these competent studies have been performed bidimensionally, which may hide important questions. This study sought to analyze the influence of the microenvironment upon the behavior of HNSCC. Study Design: The status of pAkt, NF-kappa B and Cyclin D1 proteins was accessed through immunofluorescence and western blot methods in HNSCC cell lines originating from tongue, pharynx and metastatic lymph node when submitted to a three-dimensional culture model utilizing a matrix system. A bidimensional culture model (monolayer) was used as control. Results: The HNSCC cell lines cultured three-dimensionally exhibited a growth pattern characterized by small isolated islands, different from the control group. When the three-dimensional model was applied, two of the studied cell lines showed the same expression pattern as the bidimensional model regarding nuclear or cytoplasmatic localization, as well as reduction of all protein levels; however, the cell line originated from tongue, which specially has the epidermal growth factor receptor constitutively activated, demonstrated nuclear translocation of pAkt and also an increase in the levels of Cyclin D1. Conclusions: The results suggest the influence of the microenvironment upon the behavior of HNSCC cells due to the changed expression of proteins related to tumor growth and cellular invasion. Furthermore, intrinsically genetic conditions also played important roles over the cells, despite the culture model employed.

Adhesion of Trypanosoma cruzi Trypomastigotes to Fibronectin or Laminin Modifies Tubulin and Paraflagellar Rod Protein Phosphorylation

Background: The unicellular parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease in humans. Adherence of the infective stage to elements of the extracellular matrix (ECM), as laminin and fibronectin, is an essential step in host cell invasion. Although members of the gp85/TS, as Tc85, were identified as laminin and fibronectin ligands, the signaling events triggered on the parasite upon binding to these molecules are largely unexplored. Methodology/Principal Findings: Viable infective parasites were incubated with laminin, fibronectin or bovine serum albumin for different periods of time and the proteins were separated by bidimensional gels. The phosphoproteins were envisaged by specific staining and the spots showing phosphorylation levels significantly different from the control were excised and identified by MS/MS. The results of interest were confirmed by immunoblotting or immunoprecipitation and the localization of proteins in the parasite was determined by immunofluorescence. Using a host cell-free system, our data indicate that the phosphorylation contents of T. cruzi proteins encompassing different cellular functions are modified upon incubation of the parasite with fibronectin or laminin. Conclusions/Significance: Herein it is shown, for the first time, that paraflagellar rod proteins and alpha-tubulin, major structural elements of the parasite cytoskeleton, are predominantly dephosphorylated during the process, probably involving the ERK1/2 pathway. It is well established that T. cruzi binds to ECM elements during the cell infection process. The fact that laminin and fibronectin induce predominantly dephosphorylation of the main cytoskeletal proteins of the parasite suggests a possible correlation between cytoskeletal modifications and the ability of the parasite to internalize into host cells.

Quatro Desenhos de Frank Lloyd Wright

O objetivo deste trabalho é discutir aspectos do processo de projeto e sua representação gráfica, num momento em que softwares de projeto 3D vem se tornando hegemônicos na prática do arquiteto e no ensino de arquitetura, em contraponto às práticas de desenho em prancheta. Os motivos e circunstâncias não são objeto do trabalho, cujo foco está numa prática de projeto e representação gráfica 2D, mas que tem muito a contribuir para o debate do quadro acima: os desenhos de projeto de Frank Lloyd Wright. Casos de estudo: quatro pranchas desenhadas por FLLW. É importante notar que, no vasto quadro da historiografia wrightiana, análises e interpretações originais, pioneiras, da arquitetura vem surgindo nas últimas décadas, mas ainda há poucos textos sobre desenhos e representação gráfica do arquiteto. Este constitui uma primeira aproximação do autor acerca de tema que oferece abrangente potencial. São exemplos em que, na relação imagem-objeto, a representação bidimensional constrói o projeto tridimensional. A arquitetura emerge como experimentação sem cair na especulação formal. Demonstram uma prática mais lenta, reflexiva e laboriosa do que a oferecida pelos software 3D atuais – mas onde cada traço, textura e grafismo implica um significado de espaço e materialidade.